Clicking sound while breathing following inhalational anesthesia

[RosieMaia]

Hi there,

Yesterday one of my girls had ovariohysterectomy due to pyometra. The surgery itself went fine, and she has been eating and toileting normally, her weight is stable. She is somewhat subdued, though I assume this is more or less normal.

The thing that concerns me is her breathing sounds. She makes the kind of clicking sound that I've grown to associate with an URI. Her breathing was fine prior to the surgery and she is on a post-op antibiotic, so I very much doubt a bacterial infection. Could this be a reaction to the inhalational anesthetic (isoflurane)? Has anyone noticed that in guinea pigs post-op?

Her vet is off until next Tuesday, when we have a scheduled check-up. I'm thinking to bring her in for a check, if this doesn't resolve by tomorrow.

She seems to also be uncomfortable, the vet gave us buprenorphine to use in case she's in pain and told us to avoid using it, unless we feel we need to. This piggy hasn't been with us for a long time, I really can't tell from her body language whether she's subdued due to being in pain or due to being drowsy from the buprenorphine. Just to be on the safe side, I will keep giving it to her (even if she's drowsy, she's eating, so that should be fine).

 

[VickiA]

Hello
After surgery like that she will need pretty good pain relief as she will be in considerable pain. Did they give her any injection of pain relief? Post major surgery mine have had a large dose of metacam twice daily plus we have also had tramadol on top. I’d be tempted to give her the pain relief even if it makes her sleepy. You say she’s eating. It’s a good idea to give her top up feeds to make sure she gets enough to eat.


As for the clicking, I would be tempted to get her checked out.in the meantime you could place some steaming water near to her cage to help loosen her airways.

Hope she is ok overnight for you.

 

[RosieMaia]

Yes, she is on pain relief: she was given a buprenorphine injection + metacam in the clinic, and at home we have continued with buprenorphine (administered orally) plus the maximum dose of metacam for her weight. I have had other pigs spayed, and they didn't require buprenorphine at home, the initial injection at the clinic plus metacam was enough. She is also on metoclopramide + ranitidine to ensure gastric motility after the surgery.

I will bring her to the clinic today, as I am concerned about her breathing. She does appear brighter this morning though.

 

[RosieMaia]

Just to update you. Went to the vet earlier today, apparently she has a regular UTI, either coincidental, or as a result of weakened immune system due to the surgery, which causes stress on the body. Her lungs are clear, which is good, so we went home with some gentle antibiotic drops for eyes and nose to help ease the congestion, baytril and a nebulizing solution. She did a *big* sneeze in the nebulizing box, and 15 minutes later was back to her usual self. I think she was uncomfortable mostly due to her congested nose, rather than post-op pain (which is logical, considering she was maxed up on buprenorphine and metacam).

Long story short, she's fine and eating right now, much brighter, looks and acts pretty much normal. I'm really relieved, as in my mind I was imagining horror stories involving rare side effects of the inhalational anesthetic and what not.